Dalglish's Liverpool FC legacy is secure

The following story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club:

The King may not be back on his throne just yet - and may even face an uphill battle to reclaim it. But the clamour on the Kop for his coronation is growing by the day.

A week ago Kenny Dalglish was the man tasked with helping pinpoint Rafa Benitez's successor.

Fast forward seven days and he apparently finds himself in a two-horse race for the Anfield hot-seat with Fulham's Roy Hodgson. The kingmaker has turned serious contender.

There has been no public word from the Kop legend himself but no one should be in any doubt just how much he wants a second crack at the job he cherishes above any other.

His former players have been queuing up all week to wax lyrical about why he is the right man at the right time for a club wracked by instability and uncertainty. And just to ram home the point his son Paul, the ex-Reds reserves frontman, passionately pleaded his father's case.

"I think my dad is the best person to do the job, I know how much he wants it," he said.

"He's a born winner. He's an inspiration to everyone connected to Liverpool. No-one can inspire the whole club in these difficult times like my father."

Of course not everyone is convinced about Dalglish's fairytale return and many of the doubts expressed are understandable.

Dalglish is the greatest player ever to wear a Reds shirt. A man who cemented his legendary status on the Kop during six years as boss between 1985 and 1991 when he won three league titles and two FA Cups.

He's admired, respected and loved in equal measure and some are concerned that by coming back he would risk damaging all that. And also that by agreeing to work under Tom Hicks and George Gillett, he would somehow be tarnished.

In the absence of a crystal ball, there are no guarantees. Who knows, the second coming could end in tears but it's clearly a risk Dalglish is willing to take.

And if Kenny Dalglish himself is prepared to sacrifice his reputation, to put his neck on the line for the club he loves, then surely that should be good enough for anyone?

This is a man who doesn't need the money and doesn't crave the spotlight. He would be making the leap from directors' box to the dugout because of his growing concern for what's happening at Anfield, seeking a chance to repay fans desparately in need of a lift for their unswerving support.

And what if it did pay off? It would be one of football's greatest stories.

Another claim is that Dalglish has been out of the game too long. It's a decade since he last managed in the top flight. The argument is that the game has moved on and Dalglish has been left behind; that Liverpool supporters are living in the past.

But in truth how much has really changed? Players are richer, the stakes are higher and some clubs are now playthings of billionaires. But the qualities needed for success as a boss surely remain the same?

Nobody can question Dalglish's knowledge of the game and he won't have lost that ability to motivate. The passion and desire is still there.

Others argue Dalglish may not be able to handle the pressure of life as a Premier League boss these days. They point out it all got too much for him in February 1991 when he resigned and walked away.

But that ignores the unbearable stress Dalglish had been faced with over the preceding years. He had bravely led the club through two major tragedies and when he quit, he was still dealing with the emotional toil of Hillsborough and the aftermath.

Over the past decade Dalglish has had many chances to get back into the game but nothing could tempt him. It was only when Liverpool came calling last year that he leapt at the opportunity to work as an ambassador for the club and help youngsters at the Academy.

Now another opening has arisen and having looked around at the competition Dalglish, who has huge personal respect and affection for Roy Hodgson, has nonetheless rightly concluded his credentials stand up to allcomers in comparison. And he simply wants the best for Liverpool.

Even if only on a short-term deal until the club's sale is completed, Dalglish would be the ideal man to provide unity and restore morale; the man best placed to calm fears of a player exodus and convince the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to stay put.

He knows how the club ticks and what's needed to lead Liverpool through these tough times.

Without doubt it would be an emotional appointment but that doesn't mean it would be the wrong one. Liverpool fans deserve the best and club needs reinvigorating.

Dalglish is the man to do it.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.